Thoughts on the Native Plant Movement

 

If you’re reading this, you are likely one of the foot soldiers of the growing native plant movement. We are a group of people who have learned that using regionally appropriate native plants in our landscapes matters. It matters to insects, birds, mammals, and the whole food chain that follows the one organism that can take energy from the sun and turn it into something that the rest of the ecosystem can use.

Share seeds or plants of black-eyed Susan with friends

It’s frustrating that more people don’t have that knowledge, but it is often a matter of simply not knowing. Small but deliberate actions on our part can help them learn. Doug Tallamy and his Homegrown National Park organization advocate that we can make a difference, one yard at time, by adding native plants to our landscape. We can also make a difference with our interactions with other people.

• Talk to neighbors, friends, and family about the changes in your garden.
• Get your yard certified.
• Offer to be a speaker to a garden club about why you use native plants.
• Point out something of interest: “Oh, look at that tiger swallowtail butterfly! Did you know that is our Georgia State Butterfly and it uses our native tuliptree as a host plant?”
• Share information: articles, books (lend them yours!), photos (post them on Facebook, Instagram, text messages), and share your experiences.
• Give gifts: plants, books, memberships, or even gifts of time to help someone re-do an area with native plants.

My neighbor's buttonbush attracts butterflies every year
and I remind her how special that plant is for them.

You never know when a small conversation, signage, or even a plant might spark an interest. When I’m out in the yard, people will ask about blooming plants or something they noticed earlier. I have given away seeds and small plants to neighbors who admired my red buckeye (Aesculus pavia). I have planted extra plants at my neighbor’s house, my family’s yards, and local schools.

Want to make a bigger impact? Convince your HOA or local government to encourage more native plant use. Even foot soldiers without gardens can help accomplish change.